Japanese motorbike maker Yamaha is aiming to regain market share with the launch of two cult sports bikes priced at Rs 10.5 lakh each (ex-showroom).
NEW DELHI: Japanese motorbike maker Yamaha, once a dominant player in the Indian bike segment, is aiming to regain market share with the launch of two cult sports bikes priced at Rs 10.5 lakh each (ex-showroom).
Yamaha Motor India (YMI), the local unit of Yamaha Motor Co, is banking on the 1,680-cc 'MT 01' and 998-cc 'YZF R1' to revive its brand identity in the Indian market, where it has been reduced to a marginal player with just three per cent share.
"This launch is a trigger for re-establishing Yamaha brand in India. Though we'll be present across segments but we would carve out a niche for Yamaha products, which would be high on technology, design and innovation," YMI CEO and Managing Director Tomotaka Ishikawa said.
He said the firm plans to launch a slew of products based on new technology in the upcoming Auto Expo in January 2008.
Yamaha would initially sell the new sports bikes from five retail outlets in four cities, Ahmedabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Bangalore. The number of outlets would be increased to 50 by the middle of 2010. The company plans to expand its dealership for sports bikes in a phased manner and would add five dealers in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Pune within six months.
"Our aim is to first ensure that we get proper service stations put in place before we start selling products in any city," P Sam, YMI's Head for Marketing and Sales, said.
'MT 01' and 'YZF R1' would be brought as completely built units. The government levies a hefty duty on automobiles brought through this route, which doubles the cost of the bikes. The government had in April this year allowed import of bikes with more than 800-cc engine capacity, subject to certain conditions.
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